What is in store for the 'Backup CM' O Pannerselvam this Tamil Nadu Assembly election?

Known for being a staunch Jayalalithaa loyalist, he has had to fight for power in the AIADMK after her death, what is in store for him?

This year’s Tamil Nadu Assembly election is a litmus test for both the major Dravidian parties, the AIADMK and the DMK. Tamil politics since the founding of DMK in 1949 has always had larger-than-life personas leading the state. However, this election seems more of a test for ruling party because after the deaths of J Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi, the DMK has taken to a groomed leader in M K Stalin whilst the AIADMK has faced leadership issues over the past few years. One of the more popular figures in the ruling party is Ottakarathevar Panneerselvam.

Fondly known as OPS, most popular for being AIADMK supremo late J Jayalalithaa’s right-hand man, is eyeing to retain power in the state. Panneerselvam, often described as “staunch Jayalalithaa loyalist" and "Backup CM", has been the CM of Tamil Nadu thrice, including the one as a caretaker chief minister when Jayalalithaa was forced to resign by court orders.

Soon after the passing away of the enigmatic leader in 2016, the party was in disarray and it was a turbulent time as multiple people fought to take control of the party including V K Sasikala, Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS), TTV Dhinakaran and OPS. The years 2016 and 2017 were a real test for OPS’s leadership, influence and support from the party cadre. OPS who took over as CM resigned only months later and was expelled from the party at the behest of the then general secretary V K Sasikala. She appointed EPS as the CM, TTV as the deputy general secretary before the start of her four-year prison sentence in a DA case and she was later expelled from the party, a demand from the OPS faction of the party for merger with the EPS faction.

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Pannerselvam’s influence in the party and among cadre was on full display during that time. Palaniswami, not the most prominent face around at the time, needed OPS and his supporters after Sasikala’s family was expelled. Several members owing allegiance to OPS were made members of a steering committee, another demand of the faction for a merger. Pannerselvam’s reinstatement to the party, him being given the Deputy CM post, and several Cabinet portfolios is evidence of his sway not only in the AIADMK but also Tamil Nadu politics.

Despite the power and positions OPS holds and has held in Tamil Nadu politics, in stark contrast to his political mentor Jayalalithaa, he is known to be among one of the not very vocal leaders who does not have the personality cult of the late AIADMK supremo. It has also been speculated in that Jayalalithaa ostensibly chose OPS to lead the party and the state in her few instances of absence due to this quality which would reduce the risk of rebellion from him and his supporters. In fact, she chose OPS instead of Thanga Tamilselvan, who gave up his seat from Andipatti for her to get elected to the Assembly in 2001.

Panneerselvam has been active in politics since he was a teenager. In 1969, at the age of 18, he joined the then united DMK and worked at the grassroots level. When DMK split in 1973 following popular actor M G Ramachandran’s suspension from DMK, OPS joined MGR’s new AIADMK party making him one of the founding members. Over time, he grew in stature in the party, but his electoral debut was not to come till the 21st century.

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In 2001, he contested from the Periyakulam Assembly seat in Theni district, his native place and won the election and re-election in 2006. In 2011, he shifted to Bodinayakkanur in the same district and won two elections there. He will be contesting from Bodinayakannur constituency this election too. Interestingly, this seat holds sentimental value to him as this was the first Assembly seat that Jayalalithaa won in 1989.

This constituency is likely to see one of the more interesting fights this election as OPS will take on former AIADMK member and now DMK member Thanga Tamilselvan. They both had the trust of late J Jayalalithaa but they never saw each other eye-to-eye.

Another key factor this election so far has been the OPS-EPS power play. Whilst several AIADMK supporters back Palaniswami to continue as chief minister if the party is voted into power, OPS also has been speculated to take over as the CM as he is considered to be Jayalalithaa’s “political heir” by some. Speculations over the AIADMK's CM face, however, were put to rest in January when the party’s General Council definitely said that Edappadi Palaniswami would be the CM face for the polls.

Over the past five years, EPS has come across as a fairly efficient administrator, but this is the first time in the foreground of Tamil Nadu politics for him, whilst, OPS has already served three short terms as a CM and has been at the forefront of Tamil Nadu politics. However, it has to be said that Palaniswami’s astuteness was on display when he forced OPS to merge with AIADMK and made his deputy, effectively demoting him. To balance this out, however, Pannerselvam is EPS’s boss in the party’s hierarchy.

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Pannerselvam’s role in the party post-election is still unknown, whether he will maintain a similar profile if the party wins, or if he has bigger ambitions is still unclear and only time will tell.